2018 – Playing for the first time in the old stomping grounds his father, newly-minted Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, at Stade Olympique in his birth city of Montréal, QC, top Blue Jays prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. begins to build his own legend. He ends an exhibition game against the Cardinals by hitting a walk-off homer off Jack Flaherty with two outs in the 9th, breaking a scoreless tie, much to the delight of the 25,800 spectators present.

ByTom

2018 – Playing for the first time in the old stomping grounds his father, newly-minted Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, at Stade Olympique in his birth city of Montréal, QC, top Blue Jays prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. begins to build his own legend. He ends an exhibition game against the Cardinals by hitting a walk-off homer off Jack Flaherty with two outs in the 9th, breaking a scoreless tie, much to the delight of the 25,800 spectators present.

2017 – The announcement that the Oakland Raiders are moving to Las Vegas, NV puts an end to the last ballpark-sharing arrangement between a Major League Baseball team and an NFL franchise. The Oakland Athletics will now be the sole tenant at the O.co Coliseum, a situation that may make it easier to resolve the ballpark issues that have plagued the franchise for decades.

ByTom

2017 – The announcement that the Oakland Raiders are moving to Las Vegas, NV puts an end to the last ballpark-sharing arrangement between a Major League Baseball team and an NFL franchise. The Oakland Athletics will now be the sole tenant at the O.co Coliseum, a situation that may make it easier to resolve the ballpark issues that have plagued the franchise for decades.

2016 – In the second of two games played in Mexico City, the Padres take advantage of favorable hitting conditions at Fray Nano Stadium and explode for 5 homers and 21 runs in defeating the Astros, 21 – 6. Jabari Blash, Adam Rosales and Jon Jay all go deep off Astros starter Brady Rodgers in the 1st. The Padres also score 8 runs in the 7th, with Casey McElroy supplying a two-run blast, to seal the landslide win. For his part, Rodgers gives up 8 runs in only two-thirds of an inning and reliever Brendan McCurry is also lit up for 8 runs.

ByTom

2016 – In the second of two games played in Mexico City, the Padres take advantage of favorable hitting conditions at Fray Nano Stadium and explode for 5 homers and 21 runs in defeating the Astros, 21 – 6. Jabari Blash, Adam Rosales and Jon Jay all go deep off Astros starter Brady Rodgers in the 1st. The Padres also score 8 runs in the 7th, with Casey McElroy supplying a two-run blast, to seal the landslide win. For his part, Rodgers gives up 8 runs in only two-thirds of an inning and reliever Brendan McCurry is also lit up for 8 runs.

2013 – The Yankees place starting pitcher Phil Hughes on a crowded disabled list, where he joins teammates Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, all of whom will miss Opening Day.

ByTom

2013 – The Yankees place starting pitcher Phil Hughes on a crowded disabled list, where he joins teammates Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, all of whom will miss Opening Day.

The group led by former NBA star Magic Johnson and executive Stan Kasten emerges as the winner of the bidding process to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt

The group led by former NBA star Magic Johnson and executive Stan Kasten emerges as the winner of the bidding process to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt

ByTom

2012 – The group led by former NBA star Magic Johnson and executive Stan Kasten emerges as the winner of the bidding process to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt under supervision of a bankruptcy court judge. The winning bid is estimated at $2 billion, the highest amount ever paid for a North American professional sports franchise; an additional payment of $150 million will secure the land around Dodger Stadium that McCourt originally wanted to keep for himself. The huge prize tag will allow McCourt to make hundreds of millions in profit, even after paying back the loans he took out to purchase the team for $430 million in 2004, and the $131 million owed his wife Jamie as part of a divorce settlement. The purchase must now be submitted to the bankruptcy court by April 6th, and the sale completed by April 30th.

A thief breaks into the spring training home rented by Tampa Bay players Evan Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac in Port Charlotte, FL and makes off with $50,000 worth of jewelry and electronics. Among the items pilfered is an AK-47 automatic rifle belonging to Longoria.

ByTom

A thief breaks into the spring training home rented by Tampa Bay players Evan Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac in Port Charlotte, FL and makes off with $50,000 worth of jewelry and electronics. Among the items pilfered is an AK-47 automatic rifle belonging to Longoria.

Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka will make a $1 million contribution to the Red Sox Foundation for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in his native Japan. The team’s official charity has raised more than $1.3 million in response to the March 11th disaster, including personal donations from other Japanese players Hideki Okajima, Junichi Tazawa, and Itsuki Shoda.

ByTom

Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka will make a $1 million contribution to the Red Sox Foundation for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in his native Japan. The team’s official charity has raised more than $1.3 million in response to the March 11th disaster, including personal donations from other Japanese players Hideki Okajima, Junichi Tazawa, and Itsuki Shoda.

Minneapolis’ new Target Field is inaugurated with a college game between the University of Minnesota and Louisiana Tech, in front of 37,757 spectators, a game which also serves as an open house for fans and a dry run for the new facility. The ballpark’s main tenants, the Minnesota Twins will play two exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 2-3, while the official home opener is set for April 12th.

ByTom

Minneapolis’ new Target Field is inaugurated with a college game between the University of Minnesota and Louisiana Tech, in front of 37,757 spectators, a game which also serves as an open house for fans and a dry run for the new facility. The ballpark’s main tenants, the Minnesota Twins will play two exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 2-3, while the official home opener is set for April 12th.

Veteran 1B Doug Mientkiewicz leaves the Dodgers’ training camp after being told he will not make the opening day roster. He is offered a position as a minor league instructor, but declines, preferring to seek another opportunity to play somewhere in the major leagues.

ByTom

Veteran 1B Doug Mientkiewicz leaves the Dodgers’ training camp after being told he will not make the opening day roster. He is offered a position as a minor league instructor, but declines, preferring to seek another opportunity to play somewhere in the major leagues.